Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .358 | 140gr | LEE Mold 358-140 SWC bullet and 58 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 and Alliant Herco.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 60% and propellant combustion ≥ 80%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1260 fps | 94.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,050 psi | 82% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1316 fps | 94% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,847 psi | 82% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1240 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,068 psi | 38% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,516 psi | 34% | 833 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1312 fps | 88.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1371 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1243 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1319 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1260 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1257 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1273 fps | 87.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,020 psi | 76% | 1293 fps | 90.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,686 psi | 75% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1276 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1188 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,072 psi | 56% | 1027 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,248 psi | 62% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,882 psi | 50% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,245 psi | 51% | 1030 fps | 85.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,221 psi | 71% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,033 psi | 71% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,307 psi | 65% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,798 psi | 61% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,799 psi | 64% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,608 psi | 52% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,249 psi | 65% | 1112 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,885 psi | 58% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5 gr | 60% | 12,009 psi | 35% | 886 fps | 93.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,173 psi | 53% | 1083 fps | 85.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,305 psi | 57% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,179 psi | 77% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,708 psi | 49% | 1010 fps | 98% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,189 psi | 56% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,342 psi | 33% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,898 psi | 55% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,337 psi | 71% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,004 psi | 70% | 1168 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,598 psi | 16% | 610 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,262 psi | 59% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,789 psi | 79% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,667 psi | 58% | 1053 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,114 psi | 47% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,360 psi | 48% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,072 psi | 56% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,668 psi | 61% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,293 psi | 68% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,569 psi | 72% | 1161 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,336 psi | 66% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,859 psi | 14% | 584 fps | 92.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,084 psi | 44% | 988 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,195 psi | 80% | 1263 fps | 86.3% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,599 psi | 75% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 9 gr | 68% | 12,966 psi | 38% | 1004 fps | 85.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,404 psi | 48% | 965 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,769 psi | 61% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,957 psi | 59% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,034 psi | 73% | 988 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 5.8 gr | 60% | 13,271 psi | 39% | 912 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,043 psi | 56% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,099 psi | 47% | 1053 fps | 85.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,522 psi | 57% | 1060 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 53% | 1017 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,987 psi | 62% | 1125 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,011 psi | 44% | 984 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 25,309 psi | 74% | 1224 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 20,537 psi | 60% | 1181 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,732 psi | 29% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,290 psi | 57% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 50% | 997 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,966 psi | 38% | 928 fps | 88.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,520 psi | 48% | 978 fps | 99.9% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
* not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.
² fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 9 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .358 | 140gr | LEE Mold 358-140 SWC. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,371 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 833 fps to 1,371 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 9 of the 9 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 34–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .358 | 140gr | LEE Mold 358-140 SWC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.